Seoul's National Library hosts exhibition on Joseon era Danjong and Eom Hongdo

The National Library of Korea in Seoul will host a special exhibition titled “Gomunheon: Danjong and Eom Hong-do in Old Manuscripts,” running from March 24 to April 19 on the library’s first-floor Open Plaza. The show comes as public interest in the Joseon-era figures Danjong and the loyal official Eom Hong-do has surged after the success of the film The Man Who Lives with the King.

A centerpiece of the display is a 1733 document known as a Wanmun, issued by the Ministry of War. The certificate records that Eom Hong-do’s sixth-generation descendants were exempted from military service and other labor duties by royal order in Yeongjo’s reign, illustrating how the state commemorated his loyalty and shaped posthumous honors. The Wanmun was donated in 2019 by Mr. Eom Geun-su, with consent obtained specifically for this exhibition.

Along with the Wanmun, the exhibition presents six original documents related to Danjong and Eom Hong-do. Through the Veritable Records of Danjong and Sejo, visitors can trace the exile and deposition of Danjong, offering documentary insight into a pivotal moment in Joseon’s history. The inclusion of these primary sources provides a scholarly counterpoint to literary representations.

Literary materials are also showcased, including a pair of editions of the historical novel Danjong’s Saga by Lee Kwang-soo — a handwritten manuscript from the 1930s and a 1935 printed edition — to illustrate how Danjong’s life has been interpreted and reimagined in modern Korean literature.

Two biographical works that record Eom Hong-do’s life are on display as well: the 1817 Jehachpan Eomgong Silgi and the 1936 Chungui-gong Silgi. These biographies examine the loyalty and actions attributed to Eom Hong-do across different historical periods, highlighting how later generations constructed his legacy.

Hye-won Hyun, head of the National Library’s Old Manuscripts Division, said the exhibition aims to illuminate Danjong and Eom Hong-do through a diverse range of documentary sources. She noted that the film’s popularity has spurred broader public interest in these historical figures and that the show hopes to extend that curiosity into archival records and cultural heritage.

For U.S. readers, the exhibition signals Korea’s ongoing effort to preserve and publicly present documentary history from the Joseon era. It underscores how primary sources — from official records to biographical works and literary adaptations — shape a fuller understanding of Korea’s past, the diplomacy of memory, and the cultural foundations that inform contemporary Korean policy, education, and international cultural exchange. The event also reflects how Korean institutions curate history to support research, scholarly dialogue, and global audiences captivated by Korea’s history and heritage.